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Plastisphere viruses: hidden drivers of antibiotic resistance dissemination
Summary
Researchers identified the plastisphere — microbial communities colonizing plastic surfaces in aquatic environments — as a significant reservoir for bacteriophages that facilitate horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, suggesting that plastic pollution may be accelerating the spread of antimicrobial resistance beyond what bacterial mechanisms alone would predict.
Plastispheres, novel niches in the Anthropocene, have been recognized as hotspots for the accumulation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), posing potential threats to both environmental and public health. While mechanisms driving ARG dissemination have been extensively investigated, the role of viruses remains elusive. Here, we propose that plastisphere viruses may act as hidden drivers of ARG dissemination by mediating horizontal gene transfer, broadly interacting with prokaryotes, and encoding resistance-related auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs). Through these processes, plastisphere viruses may enhance host adaptability to new niches, inadvertently promoting the dissemination and evolution of ARGs, particularly within pathogenic microbial communities. Nevertheless, the precise role of plastisphere viruses in ARG dissemination remains inadequately characterized. Future research should employ advanced approaches to quantify virus-host ARG flux, elucidate viral infection dynamics, and validate the functionality of viral AMGs, ultimately advancing understanding of how plastisphere viruses shape ARG dissemination.